Tubular frame construction



March 13, 1945. w. NEELY I 2,371,407

TUBULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7''"IG- 1 W W an M1 INVENTOR. WILLIHM H NEELY W. H. NEELY TUBULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION March 1 3, 1945.

Filed Oct. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nd m INVENTOR \(VILLIHM H NEELY Patented Man 13, 1945 TUBULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION William H. Neely, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Universal Wire Spring Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation. of Ohio Application October 11, 1941, Serial No. 414,615

11 Claims.

' This invention relates in general to cushioned seat constructions for automobiles and the like, and more particularly to the frame structures of these seat constructions, which, generally, are made offormed metal and mount wire spring units covered by padding and covering material preferably stretched over the spring units and secured to the frame'structures. At present, attachment of covering material to these frame structures is effected by tacking strips secured to the frame structures, which strips form a base for tacking nail attaching the edges of the covering material to the frame structures. However, such a method of attachment is slow, tedious and expensive, often handicapped by lack of sufficient working space fortacking operations, and

arranged lengthwise thereof to permit of simple,

direct attachment of covering material to the rails of the frame structure.

- Another object of this invention is to provide a channel-like frame structure with perforations in its channels to form a frame structure with attachment means permitting of quick and efficient attachment of covering material to the frame structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tubular frame structure, the tubing of which includes perforated flanges to form the frame structure with convenient attachment means for quickly and efiiciently attaching covering material to the frame structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tubular frame structure, the tubing of improvements and superiorities which radically distinguish it from presently known structures These improvements or superior characteristics embodying certain novel features of construction are'clearly set forth in the appended claims, and

according to the invention, embodies outwardly extended parallel, flanges.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tubing shown in Fig. 1, with parts of the flanges cut away opposite their perforations to form ear portions for gripping and securing a tacking strip to the tubing.

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view through an automobile seat structure having a frame made of flanged, perforated tubing, the frame supporting spring structures and being covered by material directly secured to the perforated flanges of the tubing of the frame.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional view through the top rail of the automobile seat structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 4, with a top rail constructed similar to the tubing shown in Fig. 2.

longitudinally perforated Fig. 6 is a perspective view of round tubing for frame structures, the tubing embodying a single longitudinally perforated flange.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of longitudinally slitted tubing for frame structures in which the area of the tubing adjacent to its slit is perforated.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a somewhat modified. form of tubing for frame structures embodying a body portion and a perforated flanged portion provided with means for securing springs to the tubing, the perforation in the flanged portion permitting of simple, direct attachment of covering means for the springs to the flanged portion.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.8, with a spring secured to the tubing.

Fig. 10 is a perspective fragmentary view of a channel-like rail for a frame structure, the

channel having attached thereto a spring and covering material.

Fig. 11 is'a perspective view of still another modified form of a rail for a frame structure.

Referring now in detail to the exemplified form of the structure shown in Figs. 1 through 5 of.the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a sheet metal tubing having substantially rectangularly shaped cross section. This tubing,

which is shaped from a continuous metal-strip bent to the desired shape, embodies a rectangular main body portion 3 with a bottom wall 4 and side walls 5 and 6. The side walls have downwardly extended portions 1 which extend beyond the bottom wall 4 and form together with said bottom wall a U-shaped channel 8. Portions 1 provide body 3 with parallel flanges, and these flanges are formed with elongated, spaced perforations 9 permitting of simple attachment of covering material to tubing 2, as will be described hereinafter.

The extended portions 1 may also be used for securing a. tacking strip H) to tubing 2, as shown in Fig. 2. In this case, portions 1 have their lower edge opposite the perforations 9 cut away to form finger portions l2 which are folded around tacking strip I and thus permit of securely holding said strip in proper position.

Tubings of the type described are particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of frame structures for automobile seat constructions asshown in Fig. 3. In this figure, the seat construction' l4 embodies a frame including a seat frame structure l and a back frame structure l6, the seat frame structure I5 being formed with a. front rail 11, an elevated rear rail I6 and side -rails l8, and the back frame structure 16 with a top rail 20, a bottom rail 2| and side rails 22. Both frame structures support a plurality of elongated, sinuously corrugated wire springs 23, 24 respectively, which springs bridge said frame structures crosswise thereof and are coupled with each other and attached to rails l1, l8 and 20, 2| respectively, to'form spring units 25 and 26 which are padded with padding material 21, 21' and covered with cloth or similar material 28, 28' respectively. This covering material is stretched over the spring units and has its edges attached to the rails by means of hog rings 29, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. The hog rings 29, which in their unassembled condition are crescent shaped open rings with pointed ends, pierce in their assembled condition the wire reenforced edges 30 of the covering material stretched over the respective spring units and extend through the perforations B in the flanges of the rails in planes substantially rectangularly related to their flanges.

In covering seat construction 14, spring unit 25 is padded with padding 21, preferably hogrlnged to springs 23 at 3|, then covering material 28 with its rear, preferably slitted portion 32 is hog-ringed to the elevated rear rail 16, and thereafter cover material 28 is stretched over the front and side edges of spring unit 25 and hog-ringed to the front and side rails 11 and f9. When the spring unit 25 has thus been covered, spring unit 26 is padded with padding 21 folded around the bottom and top portions of springs 24 and then covered with covering material 28' hogringed to bottom rail 2| and after being stretched over padding 21' hog-ringed to top and side rails 20 and 22. The back'of the seat construction is covered with a piece of covering material 34 hog-ringed to top and side rails 20 and 22 and to elevated rear rail i8 and finally finished off by a molding 35 secured to the rails by threaded studs 36 extended through holes 31 in bottom wall 4 and held in position by speed nuts 38 on said bottom wall opposite its holes 31, see Fig. 4.

When one or the other rail mounts a tacking strip as shown in Fig. 2, the covering material is tacked to the strip as disclosed in Fig. 5, in which covering materials 28 and 34 are directly secured to tacking strip It) by tacking nails 39,

which tacking strip is covered by a finishing welt 40 secured to said strip by screws 4|.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the flanged tubing 42 is of circular shape and provided with a perforated flange 43, the elongated perforations 44 of which extend in spaced relation over the entire length of the flange.

The form of tubing 45 shown in Fig. '1 is a split tubing provided in the"areas adjacent to its split 46 with elongated perforations 41.

The form of tubing 48 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has rectangular shape and embodies opposite its one wall 49 a wall 50 arranged parallel to wall 49 in. spaced relation with respect thereto to form with wall 49 an elongated channel 5|. This channel which is used for supporting the bent end portion 52 of a spring 53, has the upper por tion 54 of its wall 50 outwardly inclined and provided with elongated perforations to permit of 7 direct hog-ringing of a cover to tubing 48, and

the lower portion of wall 50 is formed with inverted U-shaped slits 55 to form ears or tongues 56 adapted. to encircle and securely hold the ends of springs, such as spring 53, when inserted into channel 5! and aligned with tongues or ears 56. Channel 5! may be lined with fibre to avoid squeaking noises of the springs, mounted thereon.

The rail structure shown in Fig. 10 shows a channel-like section 51 with a lining 58. This section has extended into its channel 59 a spring 60, the end coil 6! of which is secured in said channel by an ear portion 62 formed by a U- shaped slit 63 in flange 64 of section 51. The second flange 65 of section 51 i outwardly bent at 66 and provided with perforations 61 for attachment of a covering material 68 to said portion by hog rings 69 which are extended through covering material 68 folded around portion 66 and perforations 61.

The form of tubing 10 shown in Fig. 11 embodies a circular tube 1| having welded, or otherwise attached thereto, a substantially U-shaped member 12. This member has its one flange partly cut away to form ear portions 13 and its other flange formed with elongated holes 14 and inverted U-shaped slits 15 providing other ear portions 16 opposite ear portions 13, which ear portions 16 cooperate with portions 13 in securing springs to tubing 10.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an upholstered construction a frame structure embodying channeled rails having a plurality of perforations in their flanges, a covering, and hog-rings securing the edges of said covering to said flanges, said perforations being arranged in spaced relation with respect to the edges of said flanges, and each hog-ring piercing said covering and extending through one of said perforations.

2. A tubular frame for upholstered constructions embodying tubing of substantially rectangular cross section having a body portion, elongated, perforated flange means extended substantially parallel to one wall of said body portion in front thereof and in spaced relation with respect thereto to form a channel adjacent to said body portion, a lining for said channel, and attachment means in said channel near the bottom thereof, embodying slitted portions of said flange means and lining, said attachment means being spaced from each other and adapted to be folded together with said lining around the end wires of sinuously shaped corru ated wire springs extended into said channel opposite said attachment means.

3. In upholstered constructions a tubular frame embodying tubing having a body portion and elongated, perforated flange means extended from said body portion, springs mounted on said frame and secured to the tubing thereof, padding on said springs, and a covering stretched over said springs and secured to the perforated flange means of the tubing of said frame.

4. In upholstered constructions a frame struc ture embodying channeled rails having perforations in their flanges, springs mounted in the channeled portions of said rails, a covering stretched over said springs, and means directly securing said covering to the perforated portions of said flanges.

5. In upholstered constructions a tubular frame embodying tubing having a body portion and elongated, perforated flange means extended from said body portion, springs spanning said frame and secured to the tubing thereof, padding on said springs, a covering stretched over said springs, and hog-ring means threaded through the ends of said covering and the perforations in the flange means of said tubing to secure said covering directly to said frame.

6. In upholstered constructions a tubular frame embodying tubing having a body portion and parallelly arranged perforated flanges extended from said body portion, springs spanning said frame and secured thereto, padding on said springs, a covering stretched over said springs, and hog-rings piercing the ends of said covering and threaded through the perforations of either of said flanges to directly attach said covering to said frame.

7. In upholstered constructions a tubular frame embodying tubing of substantially rectangular cross section having a body portion and elongated, perforated flange means extended in spaced relation substantially parallel to one wall of said body portion to form a channel adjacent to said body portion, elongated springs spanning said frame and extended into said channel, means in said channel for securing said springs thereto. padding for said springs, and a covering stretched over said padding and secured to the perforated flange means of said tubing.

8. In upholstered constructions a tubular frame embodying tubing of substantially rectangular cross section having a body portion and elongated, perforated flange means extended in spaced relation substantially parallel to one wall of said body portion to form a channel adjacent to said body portion, elongated springs spanning said frame and extended into said pocket, means on said flange means for securing said springs in said channel, padding on said springs, a covering stretched over said padding, and hog-ring means securing the ends of said covering directly to the perforated flange means of said tubing.

9. Upholstered constructions as described in claim 3, wherein said perforated flange means include slitted portions shaped to form supporting and attachment means for mounting said springs on said frame.

10. Upholstered constructions as described in claim 3, wherein the body portion of said tubing is substantially rectangularly shaped, and wherein said perforated flange means consists of elongated, perforated, parallelly arranged flanges formed by extending the walls of opposite sides of said body portion beyond the edges of one of the other walls of said body portion.

11. Upholstered constructions as described in claim 3, wherein the body portion of said tubing is of substantially rectangularly shaped cross section, and wherein said perforated flange means consists of means extended in front of one wall of said body portion in substantial parallel and spaced relation with respect thereto.

WILLIAM H. NEELY. 

